EENA’s newsletter brings you the latest updates in emergency communications.
In this edition, you can read about emergency call outages in Andalucía and Australia, problems with Estonia’s public warning system, information on the upcoming Digital Networks Act, and much more!
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EENA News
Save the date: EENA Event
Future EU Legislation on Emergency Communications
Save the date for our upcoming event on EU legislation on emergency communications! The event will be held on 3-4 December in Brussels at the Microsoft Executive Briefing Centre.
The event is limited to 120 participants. Stay tuned, as the registration for the event will open in the second semester of 2025!
Call for ideas for the EENA 2026 programme
The EENA Conference 2025 took place close to two months ago, but we are already starting to prepare the programme for the next EENA Conference (15-17 April 2026, Riga). Before a more formal call for abstracts, which will come in the late summer/early autumn, we would like to ask for your ideas. Specifically:
- Is there any topic that you would like to hear about in particular?
- Is there something you or your organisation would like to present and think would have an added value for the audience?
- Is there someone you can recommend for a presentation on a specific topic?
Please let us know your ideas by 26 June EOB so that we can take them into account when we start to work more deeply on the programme. You can contact Benoît Vivier at [email protected] with your ideas.
Webinars
Open discussion on the Digital Networks Act
30 June 2025 at 14:30 CEST
EENA invites its members to a dedicated web meeting to explore and discuss the implications of the Digital Networks Act. This session is an opportunity for members to share their views, raise concerns, and contribute ideas that can help shape EENA’s approach and position on the legislation. We are keen to hear your perspectives on how the Act might affect emergency services, communication networks, and public safety operations. Whether you have specific feedback, questions, or simply want to better understand the potential impact, your input is invaluable. The web meeting will consist of an open discussion between participants, rather than a top-down presentation and is only open for EENA members.
Integrating emergency communications into critical infrastructure frameworks
2 July 2025 at 14:30 CEST
Emergency communication systems, such as 112, 911, 000, and 999, play an essential role in ensuring access to public safety services. This webinar will explore how these systems are treated within national Critical Infrastructure frameworks across different countries. By sharing international approaches and practices, the session aims to support public safety professionals in understanding how emergency communications are positioned within broader infrastructure strategies, and how this can serve as a reference for national planning and benchmarking.
Add the webinar to your calendar.
Did you miss our latest webinar?
Watch the recording of our latest webinar on specialised blue light routing on our website! The webinar explores how to reduce the arrival time of emergency services at the scene of an incident, focusing on the use of specialised routing for blue light services.
Are you interested in sharing your expertise in an EENA webinar? You can contact Sanna Antila at [email protected] to suggest topics you’d like to speak on in our upcoming webinars.
Emergency communications around the world
18-hour outage affected Andalusia’s emergency health communications
An 18-hour system outage at Andalusia’s 061 Health Emergency Centre disrupted emergency medical communications between Sunday, 1 June at 10:00 a.m. and Monday, 2 June at 4:00 a.m. During the outage, calls and patient data could not be forwarded to coordinating physicians, and communication with hospitals, emergency services, and law enforcement was blocked. A level three contingency plan was activated in Málaga, relying on landlines, mobile phones, and walkie-talkies to route calls manually via 112. The Andalusian Medical Union warned that such incidents are becoming frequent, citing unstable systems and inadequate staffing. Although staff managed to handle the emergency through extraordinary efforts, the union is demanding urgent investment in more reliable infrastructure and additional personnel to prevent future risks to patient safety.
Read more here (Cadena SER, in Spanish).
Estonia’s national alert system test reveals major delays and failures
A nationwide test of Estonia’s EE-ALARM public warning system in May exposed significant weaknesses, as sirens failed in some areas and mobile alerts were delayed by up to 30 minutes. The 14 May trial, conducted by the Estonian Defence Forces, aimed to test pre-alert and main alert phases via apps, SMS, TV, and online platforms. While text messages eventually reached around 1.5 million devices, only 700,000 were delivered in the first 15 minutes, and some users reported long delays. Sirens were also inconsistent—one-third were late or silent. Estonia’s interior ministry is now investigating the issues and working with emergency agencies to strengthen the system’s reliability for future emergencies.
Read more here (Estonian world).
Croatia completes first live RTT call ahead of EU accessibility deadline
On 28 May, HAK, Croatia’s national drivers’ association, holder of the emergency number 1987 for roadside assistance, successfully completed its first Real-Time Text (RTT) call to their PSAP on a live production network. This marks a significant step forward in improving accessibility for people with disabilities during emergencies in Croatia. Under the European Accessibility Act, RTT and Total Conversation are recognised as real-time equivalents to voice calls to 112 for individuals with hearing or speech impairments. With the 28 June 2025 deadline approaching for EU Member States to implement RTT (extendable to 28 June 2027 upon request), Croatia joins Ireland as one of the first countries to meet this obligation ahead of schedule. Croatian RTT emergency communications are currently possible on a long number, rather than a shorter emergency number, as Croatian MNOs transmit all emergency communications through 2G and 3G networks, which cannot support RTT. Croatian MNOs are working diligently to enable the routing of emergency calls over 4G and 5G networks as soon as possible.
The FCC delays multilingual emergency alerts for natural disasters
California Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán is calling on the FCC to move forward with long-stalled rules enabling multilingual emergency alerts, citing growing risks to communities with limited English proficiency. The push comes after January wildfires in Los Angeles left many residents, particularly from Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, without timely warnings due to a lack of translated alerts. Although the FCC approved new rules in late 2023 to expand alerts beyond English and Spanish, the order has yet to be published in the Federal Register, delaying implementation. Barragán, backed by members of several Congressional caucuses, warned the delay is “dangerous” and “indefensible.” Community groups echoed her concerns, calling the inaction a threat to both public safety and emergency responders.
Read more here (Los Angeles Times).
EU to publish “less ambitious” Digital Networks Act on 16 December 2025
The European Commission will publish its long-anticipated Digital Networks Act (DNA) on 16 December 2025, according to Politico. The DNA is expected to be less ambitious than the complete overhaul of digital rules proposed in the 2024 European Commission white paper, which may be due to considerable opposition from EU Member States. The act is still expected to simplify reporting obligations for telecoms providers by as much as 50 %, with key cuts possibly taking place in rules for B2B and IoT services. Decision-making is expected to be simplified through the creation of a new “European body” to improve the existing architecture of the Commission, national authorities, BEREC and the RSPG. Importantly, EENA has succeeded in getting a public confirmation from the European Commission Executive Vice President Henna Virkkunen that the act will improve safety and resilience for EU citizens during an emergency.
EU opens call for evidence on Digital Networks Act
On 6 June, the European Commission opened a call for evidence on its upcoming proposal for a Digital Networks Act (DNA). The DNA will replace the European Electronic Communications Code, the primary piece of legislation for emergency communications in the EU. Interested stakeholders can provide responses to this consultation until 11 July. EENA will be responding to this consultation in the coming weeks, and will also provide guidance for emergency service professionals on how they can contribute to ensuring that the DNA improves emergency communications in Europe.
Read more here (European Commission).
EU Member States publish joint Conclusions on reliable and resilient connectivity
On 6 June, EU Member States in the Council of the EU passed conclusions calling for stronger action to improve the resilience of their telecommunications networks, and the power networks that support them. The Conclusions, which represent the common position of Member States on this topic in advance of the Digital Networks Act, noted that uninterrupted connectivity is particularly important during emergencies, and for civil protection. To improve this, the Member States call on the EU Commission to propose measures to improve network resilience, including by providing EU funding, and to consider creating a reliable EU network of resilient digital infrastructure, which would include satellites. The Conclusions also note the potential of satellites to provide fallback redundancy following a disruption to cellular networks, a position mirroring EENA’s findings in its recent report on emergency satellite communications. European Commission Vice President Henna Virkkunen promised to consider these conclusions when preparing the digital networks act, and expressed her “strong support” for the provisions on sovereign satellite capabilities.
Read more here (Council of the European Union).
UK study finds 999 BSL video relay service is saving lives
Ofcom has reported that the UK’s 999 BSL video relay service, which enables deaf British Sign Language (BSL) users to contact emergency services, has been effective in improving access and saving lives. Introduced in 2022, the free, 24/7 service allows users to connect through a mobile app or website and is currently operated by 999 BSL, the UK’s only approved emergency video relay provider. According to Ofcom’s latest evaluation, the app has been downloaded over 26,000 times, and around 20,000 calls were made in 2024 alone. Median call waiting times improved to three seconds, and the service is credited with saving at least two lives per year. While it has yet to meet its final speed-of-answer target due to challenges like nuisance calls, Ofcom says strong progress is being made, and complaints have been minimal.
Read more here (UK Authority News).
Malta launches helpline to ease pressure on emergency services
Malta’s Health Ministry has launched a new telemedicine helpline (1400) to guide patients aged 16–69 on whether they should visit Mater Dei Hospital’s emergency department. The free service aims to reduce non-urgent visits by triaging patients to the most appropriate level of care based on their symptoms. Announced by Health Minister Jo Etienne Abela, the initiative has been in development for over a year. While serious symptoms like chest pain should still prompt a 112 call, patients with concerns like suspected broken bones can use 1400 for advice. The helpline is operated by medical professionals and will integrate AI-assisted triage by the end of the year. The ministry estimates the service could prevent around 50 unnecessary ER visits per day.
Read more here (Times of Malta).
Telstra faces scrutiny after emergency call service failure for deaf users
Australian telecom provider Telstra has come under renewed scrutiny after mistakenly disabling access to the 106 emergency call service—used by people with hearing or speech impairments—for nearly 13 hours during a server migration in July 2024. While no emergency calls were missed, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) warned the outage posed a serious risk of harm. Telstra has agreed to an independent review of its systems and paid a penalty of $18,780, the maximum under current rules. This marks the second major emergency service failure by Telstra in under a year, following a $3 million fine in December 2024 for emergency call centre disruptions. The telco has pledged to implement operational improvements and report regularly to ACMA as part of a court-enforceable undertaking.
UK to upgrade in-vehicle eCall system as part of wider vehicle safety overhaul
The UK government is preparing a major update to its vehicle type-approval regulations, with a focus on future-proofing in-vehicle emergency call systems (eCall). The new rules will align the UK with international standards, ensuring eCall remains operational beyond the 2033 shutdown of 2G and 3G networks. The updated system aims to maintain cross-border compatibility, reinforcing the UK’s cooperation with European partners. The reform is part of a wider package to harmonise safety features such as automated lane-keeping systems (ALKS) and ISOFIX child restraints, while also improving CO₂ emission reporting and vehicle visibility systems. Backed by industry and set to be implemented via Statutory Instrument, the changes are designed to enhance road safety, environmental performance, and consumer protection in a rapidly evolving automotive sector.
European Union Firefighters’ Association founded in Berlin with 21 member countries
On 21 May 2025, representatives from 21 EU countries gathered in Berlin to establish the European Union Firefighters’ Association, marking a major milestone for cross-border cooperation in civil protection. The new association will serve as the main liaison between European firefighters and EU institutions, advocating for shared standards, strategic coordination, and policy influence at the European level. Karl-Heinz Banse (Germany) was elected President, with Vice Presidents from France, Croatia, Austria, and Poland. The founding was welcomed by EU lawmakers and fire service leaders as a critical step in strengthening Europe’s disaster resilience. While not replacing the CTIF, the new association complements its work by providing a unified political voice in Brussels and Strasbourg. The initiative was formalised at the 3rd European Firefighting Summit, hosted at the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences.